Mission, Prophetic Economics, Human Development

CONTENTS:

Acknowledgments xiii
Prologue 1
Introduction 7

PART I
BASIC CONCEPTUAL ASPECTS AND THE CONTEXT OF THE EPOCH: MISSIOLOGICAL APPROACHES

1. Mission and Development: Conceptual and Historical Review 31
Secular and Technical Perspectives on Development: A Brief Account 31
- The Concept of “Development”: Its Origin and General Adjectivisations in Its Evolution 31
- Main Orientations until the 1980s 33
- Paradigm Shifts in the Last Three Decades 34
- Human Development 35
- Tensions between Approaches and the Challenge of Greater Coherence between Theory and Practice 37
Mission and Development 38
- Development, Christian Ethics and Biblical Theology 38
- Theological-Social Currents in Latin America since the 1950s 40
Concluding Remarks 41

2. Postmodern Context, Globalisation and Development: Missiological Approach 43
Postmodern Phenomenon: Its Context and Impact on the Social and Economic Spheres 44
- The Economic Order of Globalisation as the Context of the Postmodern Phenomenon 44
- Postmodern Thought and Socioeconomic Reality: Similtudes and Contradictions 46
- Consequences of the Monolithic Neoliberal Perspective on the Economy: Social Inequality 47
- Global Financial Crisis, Loss of “Governability”, and Disappearance of the Protector State 49
- Libidinal Economics: Neoliberal Culture with a Postmodern Personality 49
Missiological and Technical Approaches to Embracing the Postmodern Transition in the Sphere of Socioeconomic Development 51
- The Church’s Mission in the Midst of Epochal Changes 51
- Towards the Recovery of a Personalised Rationality 52
- Long-Term Historical Perspectives for Confronting Ideological Swings Related to Development: Constants in the History of Civilisations 53
- Some Action Guidelines for the Development of Latin America 55

3. Market Economy and Development: The Imperative of Grace 59
The Inequitable Neoliberal Economy 60
- Effects of Neoliberal Globalisation: Widespread Poverty, Inequality, and Social Insecurity 60
- Suppuration of the System: An Economics of Theft within Theft 63
The Market: Ethos of Today’s Mammon Economy 64
- Penetration of Life by the Market Economy 64
- God or Mammon: Economies in Conflict 66
Economy and the Word of God for Latin America 67
- The Hermeneutical Key of Grace 67
- Prophetic Action and the Gratuity of Christ’s Presence in the Destroyed World of Latin America: Alternatives to Neoliberalism 70
Concluding Remarks 77

PART II
PRIORITY CHALLENGES OF DEVELOPMENT AND VALUES OF THE KINGDOM

4. Christian Faith and the Challenge of Poverty and Inequality 81
General Framework for Discussing the Issue of Poverty in Latin America 83
- Studies on Poverty: A Historical Review 83
- Poverty Statistics: From the 1980s to 2020s 85
Main Trends in Policies Implemented to Address Poverty: The Difficult Integration of Economic Growth and Social Equity 91
Challenges to Be Addressed 93
- General Approaches: Macro and Micro Socioeconomic Insights 93
- Specific Guidelines for Improving Productivity and Labour Conditions 94
- Details of Procedure in the Process of Theory-Policy Management: Research and Community and Microregional Work 95
- The Global State Policies 95
Technical and Pastoral Reflections on the Theme of Poverty at the Turn of the 21st Century 98
- Technical Reflections 98
- The Word of God and Latin American Reality: Final Exhortation 100

5. Stewardship of Creation: The Environmental Variable and Development 105
Overview 105
The Discourse of “Sustainable Development”: Contrasting Views 110
- Neoliberalism versus a Market Regulated by Ecologically Based Premises 111
- Critique of “Growth” Economics and Radical Ecologically Based Economics 113
The Example of the Ecological Tradition of Pre-Columbian Peoples 114
Environment and Technology: Rural and Urban Environments 115
Co-Ordination Between Sectors and the Legal and Supervision Aspects 116
Concluding Remarks 117

6. Education, Economics and Sustainable Development: A Christian Perspective 119
The Variable “Education” and Development 119
Educational Planning and Economic Planning 120
The Education-Development Link and the Latin American Reality 121
Christian Faith, Self-Determination, and Sustainable Development 124
- Against Alienation and Cultural Dependence: Christian Character, Self-Determination, and Transformative Social Genesis 124
- The Ideal of Appropriate Human Development: Sustainable Development 126
Toward a Sustainable Development Model 127
- The Ecological Variable, Natural Resources, and Development 129
- The Technological Variable and Development 130
Alternatives 131

PART III
CHALLENGES IN CRITICAL AREAS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO RENEWED DEVELOPMENT

7. The Teaching of the Discipline: For an Economics with a Human Face and Solidarity 137
The Context of the Region and General Challenges to the Practice of Christian Higher Education 137
Purposes and Regulations for the Economic Sphere 138
- Process and Human Priorities: The Need for an Ethical Framework 139
- Two Important Consensus Statements 142
- For an Economics with a Human Face: Care and the Flourishing of Human Life 144
- A Contribution to Thought from the Central American Isthmus 146
The Relevant Proposal of the Social Solidarity Economy 147
A “Christian Mind” for Christian-Based Social and Economic Transformation 153

8. Business, Economics, and Development: Necessary Coherence with Kingdom Values 157
Business, Work, Life: Mission between Creation and the Eschaton 158
Hermeneutics of Scripture and Reality: Relationships 159
Kingdom Values, Business, and the Economic Model of Development: Seeking Coherence 160
- Economy, Sustainability of Life, and Biblical Paradigms 160
- Essentiality and Solidarity: Fundamental Principles for a New Testament-Based Economics 161
- Excellence, Co-operation, and Grace: Displacing Destructive
Competition 164
Thinking about Global Change and Emphasis for BAM’s Movement Work 165
- Witness 166
- Service 166
- Proclamation and Discipleship 166

9. Political Culture and Development: Public Management and Demands for Renewal 169
Striking Features of Latin American Political Culture 171
- Pseudo-Nationalism 171
- Ethnic Marginalisation: Racism and Underdevelopment 173
- The Theory-Practice Gap in Latin American Development 175
- A Dilemma Common to the Entire Trajectory of Latin American Development: The Deterioration of Ethics 176
Alternatives 179
- Towards a Closer Connection between Theory and Practice 179
[1] The Technical Question 179
[2] The Human Question 182
(a) Renewal in Educational Philosophies and Methodologies 182
(b) The Need for “Organic” Intellectuals and Commitments 183
- Social Movements: Promise of Social Transformation and a New Political Culture 184
- Protestantism and Ethical and Cultural Renewal: Possibilities for Latin America 186
Concluding Remarks 190

10. Social Management: Christian NGOs and Alliances for Sustainable Development 193
General Aspects of the Topic of NGOs and Development 193
- Current Position Gained by NGOs in Development Tasks 193
- The Need for Self-Assessment by NGOs 195
The Nature, Attitude, and Necessary Contribution of Christian NGOs 195
Priority Lines of Action 198

ANNEXES
Collective Documents on Christian Mission, Economics and Development
(Produced at World and Continental Events)

The Oxford Declaration on Christian Faith and Economics’
(Oxford, 1990) 207

In Search of New Economic Alternatives for Latin America
(Buenos Aires, 1993) 223

Integral Mission: Time for Solidarity Action in a Context of Poverty (Quito, 2000) 233

Business as Mission: Manifesto
(Pattaya, Forum Lausanne, 2004) 243

The Cape Town Commitment: A Confession of faith and a Call to Action
(Lausanne III, 2010) / Relevant excerpts 245

San José Manifesto Holistic Mission, Higher Education and
Interdisciplinarity in Latin America
(San José, CR, 2014) / Relevant excerpts 253

Bibliography 259
Appendix to the Bibliography: Resources on Social and Solidarity Economics 277

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

H. Fernando Bullón has been since 2014 the Regional Director for Latin America of the International Network for Christian Higher Education-INCHE. With an interdisciplinary background in engineering, social sciences, theology, and Latin American studies, he earned his Ph.D. from the Faculty of Economic and Social Studies at the University of Manchester, England. He is a member of the Latin American Theological Fellowship, a professor, and the author of several works in the fields that links mission, ethics, social sciences, and Latin American development.

This is an important book for all who would like to understand Latin America today, especially in the areas of development, Biblical economics and Christian mission. The author is a first-rate theologian and economist with decades of experience as a scholar and a practitioner. I found his work quite helpful in comprehending the major changes in Latin American development over the last sixty years.
Lindy Scott, General Editor, Journal of Latin American Theology, Professor Emeritus Latin American Studies, Whitworth University, Spokane, Washington

The author provides Christian thinkers and practitioners with wise interdisciplinary insights into sustainable development. Given his first-hand knowledge of diverse Latin American contexts, he blends Biblical and theological insights with decades of scholarship about effective paths to flourishing for people and the places in which they live. Based in the power of the Christian gospel, this book can educate, challenge, and inspire faith-informed leaders and institutions for 21st century journeys on responsible stewardship and sustainable development.
Dr. Shirley J. Roels, author and editor of books on business and economics ethics, Executive Director Emerita of the International Network for Christian Higher Education